CM announces Ramzan package

Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government has decided to give a special package during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak for the provision of quality daily use items including atta, sugar, ghee and others to the people at concessionary rate. He said that 1176 price control magistrates will be deputed during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak for ensuring stability of prices and uninterrupted supply of essential commodities to the masses while price control committees and district administrations will also be activated throughout the province. He said that free Iftaar facility will be extended to deserving persons and Ramzan Dasterkhawan will be arranged in katchi abadis, hospitals, industrial areas, bus stands and localities of labourers and workers.
He was presiding over a high level meeting regarding Ramzan Package, here on Wednesday. Senior Advisor Sardar Zulfiqar Ali Khan Khosa, Provincial Ministers Malik Nadeem Kamran, Ch. Abdul Ghafoor, Chairman Price Control Committee and Member National Assembly Bilal Yasin, Members National and Provincial Assemblies, Chief Secretary, Inspector General Police, Secretaries of Home, Food, Agriculture, Livestock and Finance departments as well as officers concerned were present. The Chief Secretary, Secretary Industries and Secretary Food gave a detailed briefing about the measures regarding Ramzan Package.
Earlier, Secretary Industries Dr. Shujaat Ali while giving a detailed briefing regarding Ramzan Package and the arrangements made for Ramzan-ul-Mubarak informed that 325 Ramzan Bazaars, 2000 fair price shops and 500 Ramzan Dasterkhawan will be arranged in the province this year. He said that an effective monitoring system has been devised for stabilizing the prices and prices of daily use items will also be monitored through online system. He said that price control committees have been mobilized in all districts and the process of consultation has been completed with Divisional Commissioners, DCOs and departments concerned for maintaining the prices of consumer items at a reasonable level and ensuring their availability in abundance during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak. Secretary Food Ifran Ali gave a detailed briefing regarding supply of atta to the people at concessionary rate during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak.
Similarly, he said, provision of sugar, ghee, baisan, dates, potatoes, onions, vegetables and fruits at reasonable rates will also be ensured. He said that in order to provide flour at concessionary rate to the people, special bags of specific colour will be prepared on which the price will be printed prominently. He made it clear that no compromise will be made on the quality of atta to be provided to the people at concessionary rate and the best flour mills will be selected for this purpose and Minister and Secretary Food will personally supervise this process.
He said that the rights of consumers will be safeguarded at any cost and their exploitation will not be permitted. He said that in order to supply sugar and ghee to the people at reasonable rates during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak, owners of sugar and ghee mills should be contacted so that maximum relief could be provided to the people.
He directed that arrangements should follow last years pattern for provision of sugar to the people at fixed rate and negotiations should be held with Sugar Mills Association for acquiring 30 thousand metric tons sugar and Trading Corporation of Pakistan for obtaining 15 thousand metric tons sugar for the stability of sugar prices during Ramzan-ul-Mubarak.
He directed that a comprehensive monitoring system should be devised for the availability of quality essential items at reasonable rates to the people in Ramzan Bazaars and besides vegetables and fruits, revolving fund should be utilized for poultry products.